Method for previewing and preselecting coiffures



S. UDICH Sept. 5, 1967 METHOD FOR PREVIEWING AND PRESELECTING COIFFURESFiled June 16, 1965 INVENTOR.

STEVE UDICH BY 9%, 12 W ATTORNEY FIG 2 3,339,453 METHOD FOR PREVIEWINGAND PRESELECTING COIFFURES Steve Udich, Hammond, Ind., assignor toRobert Tumlin, East Chicago, Ind. Filed June 16, 1965, Ser. No. 464,3589 Claims. (Cl. 88-24) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method for displayingon a screen a proposed coiffure, simulated on the head of a customer. Aslide of the proposed coiffure, a mask of the size and form of theproposed coifiure, and a slide of the customer are projected on a commonscreen to form a composite view of the customer with a proposed coitfuresimulated on the customers head.

This invention relates to a method for previewing proposed personalmodifications and more particularly relates to a method for previewingand preselecting by a customer a new coiffure.

It is not uncommon for a person to consider a personal modification fromtime to time such as, for example, a new coiffure. Many people, however,hesitate to change or make the personal modification because of thefear, or apprehension, in not knowing exactly how they will look afterthe modification has been made or if, in fact the modification will suitthem at all. Such modifications sometime require changes which at leasttemporarily prevent restoring the appearance to that before themodification. If the modification is a new coifi'ure, for example, itmight be difiicult to change back to the original and if the hair hasbeen cut, or the like, even impossible to change back to the originalfor at least a period of time.

While some attempts have been made to provide a customer with a previewof their appearance after selection of a new 'coiifure, the apparatusand/ or methods presen-tly known and/or utilized fail to achieve acompletely satisfactory result, commonly due to the length of timerequired, or poor quality end. results for customer preview.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a novel methodfor customer preview of a proposed personal modification that is simple,requires a relatively short period of time and yet achieves good qualityend results.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel method forcustomer preview of a proposed new coitfure which allows direct viewingof the customershead with the coilfure directly simulated thereon.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel method forcustomer preselection of a new coiffure wherein the customer is able toselect from a variety of coiffures simulated on the customers head.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a novel method forphotographically preparing a plurality of slides and projecting the sameby means of a plurality of projectors onto a common screen whereby aproposed personal modification may-be shown simulated as a part of acustomer.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent to oneskilled in the art as the description proceeds, this invention residesin the novel method substantially as hereinafter described and moreparticularly defined-by the appended claims, it being understood thatsuch changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed inventionmay be included as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one example of the inventionaccording to the best mode so far devised vUnited States Patent for thepractical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the method of preparing aproposed coifiure and simulating the same on the head of a customer; and

FIGURE 2 is a presentation of the positioner for the camera lens.

In preparing to show the customer a proposed coiflure, a model havingthe proposed'coiifure is first photographed.

The model can be photographed in black and white, but is preferablyphotographed in color so that the resulting coifiure to be simulated onthe customer can be in color to show the customer exactly how thatparticular customer would look with that particular coiffure. Anysuitable camera can be used to take the photograph of the model so longas the film is larger than 35 millimeter. A single refiex camera mountedon a tripod and using size 127 film has been used with effectiveness.

In taking the photograph of the model having the proposed coiifure, ithas been found preferable to provide a positioner 5 in the camera lens,which positioner preferably consists of three vertical lines interceptedcentrally by one horizontal line, as shown in FIGURE 2. The model isthen placed in front of the camera, flood lights, if needed, are turnedon the model, and the horizontal line of the positioner in the lens isaligned with the center of the eyes. The two outside vertical lines arethen aligned with the models forehead just at the hair line, while thecenter vertical line is made to run through the center of the modelsnose. The camera or the model, of course, may be moved, as needed, toachieve the desired model location. The photograph is then taken. Allphotographs taken, both of models and customers, are positioned in thissame manner to assure a good composite projected end result.

After the photograph of the model has been taken, it is developed inconventional manner and a print 7 and a transparency 9 are made, both ofwhich are identical in size. The print is cut around the outline of thehairdo (and a small portion of contrasting background is also cut outwith the hairdo). The cut-out hairdo is then placed between two piecesof clear plastic material, thus making a slide 11, which slide willhereinafter be referred to as the masking slide. If this slide is placedin the light path of a projector, only a black spot shaped like thehairdo will appear on the screen.

The remainder of the print 13 is placed over and made to coincide withthe transparency of the photograph, and together make a second slide 15,which hereinafter will be referred to as the coilfure slide. When thecoifliure slide is placed in the light path in a projector, all thatwill appear will be the hairdo, or coiifure, which will, of course,appear in color if color film has been used.

As many corresponding masking land rcoiflure slides can be made asdesired to assure that the customer will have a broad selection ofcoiifures. Since there are many types of hair styles and since there aremany colors and tints of hair, if color is to be used, a considerablenumber of slides are preferably made for customer preselection purposes.

When the customer comes in to preview a coitfure, the customer ispreferably photographed as then appearing, (customer photograph may betaken with customer positioned in same manner as was model, if desired)and is then prepared for a second photograph which requires that thehair be held back from the face and ears (which can be done inconventional manner). The customer is then seated in front of the cameraand positioned in the same manner as was the model, as brought outhereinabove. The photograph is taken of the customer with hair held backand a transparency 17 made. In the transparency 17, the hair of thecustomer is removed by masking the same either by using liquid opaque orother conventional means, the resulting modified transparency 19 beingas shown in FIGURE 1. It has been found that a Polaroid Land Camera canbe used using polaroid transparency film to cut down the time ofprocessing required before the prepared simulated coiffure can be shownon a screen.

A pair of conventional projectors 23 and 25 are then provided with theprojectors vertically aligned. In the lower porjector 25 the coifiureslide is inserted, and in the upper projector 23 the masking slide andthe transparency of the customer with hair removed are inserted andproperly aligned. One or both of the projectors has adjusting means suchas a telescopic lens, and by adjustment of the two projectors acomposite picture is projected on a common screen 27.

The customer can then view the proposed coifiure simulated on thecustomers head, preferably of life size, or larger if desired. It is tobe appreciated, of course, that by masking the hairdo of the customerand permitting the proposed coiffure to be projected, the resultingcomposite picture will show the customer and on the head of thatcustomer will appear the proposed new coiffure. By means of theposi-tioner and by means of the telescopic lens, a good qualitycomposite picture is achieved and the customer can see exactly how thecoiffure will look if adopted.

To aid the customer in preselecting the coitfure, a third projector 29can be added beside the two other projectors and into this projector atransparency 31 of the customer as then appearing is inserted (thistransparency is made from the first photograph taken of the customer orat least a photograph taken without the hair being held back), and thisview made to appear to one side of the composite picture. This, ofcourse, allows the customer to compare present apearance with theproposed new appearance should the personal modification be adopted.

By having on hand a number of proposed coiffures, the customer maypreview each in turn merely by having the operator change the maskingslide and coifiure slide each time a new proposed coifiure is to beviewed. In this manner, the customer can preselect the coiffure desiredbefore any work is done.

It is to be appreciated that while the discussion herein has beendirected to selection of a new coifiure, the method of this inventioncan likewise be used for other personal modifications such as, forexample, :a change in cosmetics or even selection of such an item as anew hat.

It view of the foregoing, it is felt that this invention provides anovel method for previewing and preselecting personal modifications notheretofore known or available.

What is claimed as my invention is:

1. A method for customer preview of a proposed personal modification,said method comprising the steps of: preparing a first presentation of apreselected personal modification, a second presentation of a maskcorresponding substantially in size and form to that of said preselectedpersonal modification, and a third presentation of a substantial portionof the customer as then appearing, said portion including the area ofproposed personal modification, and all of said presentations beingsuitable for use with a projector; placing said presentations in thelight path in a plurality of projectors; and simultaneously projectingsaid presentations on a common screen by means of said projectorswhereby said substantial portion of said customer will appear on saidscreen with said proposed modification simulated thereon.

2. A method for customer preview of a proposed coiffure modification,said method comprising the steps of: preparing a first presentation of apreselected coiffure, a second presentation of a mask correspondingsubstantially in size and form to that of said preselected coilfure, anda third presentation of at least a customers head with hair held back atleast from the face, all of said presentations when prepared beingsuitable for use with a projector; placing said presentations in thelight path in a 4 plurality of projectors; and simultaneously projectingsaid presentations on a common screen to form a composite view wherebysaid preselected coiffure may be viewed simulated on said customershead.

3. A method for customer preselection of a new coiffure, said methodcomprising the steps of: preparing a plurality of first presentationseach of which includes a proposed coiffure and a like plurality ofsecond presentations each of which includes a mask substantially equalin size and form to a different one of said proposed coiffures;preparing a third presentation of at least the customers head with hairheld back from the face and ears; all of said presentations whenprepared being suitable for use in a projector; placing one of saidfirst presentation in the light path of a first projector and the likeone of said second presentations and said third presentation in thelight path of a second projector; simultaneously projecting saidpresentations on a common screen for viewing by said customer of theproposed coiffure simulated on said customers head; and projecting eachproposed coiffure in turn simulated on said customers head untilcustomer selects a desired coifiure.

4. A method for customer preview of a proposed coiffure modification,said method comprising the steps of: preparing a first slide of apreselected coifiure, a second slide of a mask corresponding in size andform substantially to that of said proposed coiifure, and a third slideof at least the customers head with hair held back at least from theface; placing said first slide in the light path of a first projectorand said second and third slides in the light path of a secondprojector; simultaneously projecting said slides on a common screen andadjusting said slides and focusing said projectors so that a compositeview appears on said screen with said preselected coiffure simulated onsaid customers head.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said first and third slides includestransparencies and said second slide includes the coiffure of thephotograph corresponding to that of the transparency included in saidfirst slide.

6. A method for customer preview of a proposed coiffure modification,said method comprising the steps of: photographing a model with apreselected coifiure, the head of said model being made to appear ofpredetermined size and at a predetermined position by adjusting thedistance between said model and camera where necessary; making a slideutilizing a transparency of said photograph of said model and masking bymeans of said photograph substantially all portions except saidpreselected coiifure; making a second slide utilizing said coiffureappearing in said photograph of said model as a mask; photographing acustomer with hair held from face and ears, said face of customer beingmade to appear of predetermined size and at a predetermined position byadjusting the distance between camera and customer where necessary, saidpredetermined size and position being directly related to saidpredetermined size and position of said model with said preselectedcoitfure; making a third slide from a transparency of said photograph ofcustomer; placing said first slide in a first projector and said secondand third slides in a second projector vertically aligned with saidfirst projector and focusing and adjusting said projectors so that acomposite view appears on a common screen, said composite view beingthat of the customer with preselected coiffure simulated on thecustomers head.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said photographs are taken with acamera having positioning marks in viewer so that necessary distance andposition between camera and customer are readily determined by aligningthe head with said positioning marks while photographing both model andcustomer.

8. A method for customer preview of a proposed coiffure modification,said method comprising the steps of: preparing a first slidepresentation of a preselected coiffure, a second slide presentation of amask corresponding substantially in size to that of said preselectedcoiffure, and a third slide presentation of at least a customers headwith hair held back at least from the face, all of said slidepresentations when prepared being suitable for use with a projector;placing said first slide presentation in the light path of a firstprojector and placing said second and third slide presentations in thelight path of a second projector; simultaneously projecting said slidepresentations on a common screen to form a composite view whereby saidpreselected coifiure may be viewed simulated on said customers head;preparing a fourth presentation of said customer showing the customersthen present coifure; and placing said fourth presentation in a thirdprojector and projecting the same beside said composite view for readycomparison purposes.

9. A method for customer preview of a proposed personal modification,said method comprising the steps of: photographing a model with apreselected personal modification, said modification being made toappear of predetermined size and at a predetermined position byadjusting the distance between said model and camera where necessary;making a slide utilizing a transparency of said photograph of said modeland masking by means of said photograph substantially all portionsexcept said preselected personal modifications; making a second slideutilizing said personal modification appearing in said photograph ofsaid model as a mask; photographing a customer with the area of personalmodification being made to appear of predetermined size and at apredetermined position by adjusting the distance between camera andcustomer where necessary, said predetermined size and position beingdirectly related to said predetermined size and position of said modelwith said preselected personal modification; making a third slide from atransparency of said photograph of said customer; placing said firstslide in a first projector and said second and third slides in a secondprojector; and focusing and adjusting said projectors so that acomposite tview appears on a common screen, said composite view beingthat of the customer with the preselected personal modificationsimulated on the customer.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,061,378 11/1936 Henze et al88-24 2,071,338 2/1937 Henze et al -53 2,309,390 1/ 1943 Grossguth et a13559 2,899,860 8/1959 Scott et al 88--27 NORTON ANSHER, PrimaryExaminer. R. N. SHEER, Assistant Examiner.

1. A METHOD FOR CUSTOMER PREVIEW OF A PROPOSED PERSONAL MODIFICATION,SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: PREPARING A FIRST PRESENTATION OF APRESELECTED PERSONAL MODIFICATION, A SECOND PRESENTATION OF A MASKCORRESPONDING SUBSTANTIALLY IN SIZE AND FORM TO THAT OF SAID PRESELECTEDPERSONAL MODIFICATION, AND A THRID PRESENTATION OF A SUBSTANTIAL PORTIONOF THE CUSTOMER AS THEN APPEARING, SAID PORTION INCLUDING THE AREA OFPROPOSED PERSONAL MODIFICATION, AND ALL OF SAID PRESENTATIONS BEINGSUITABLE FOR USE WITH A PROJECTOR; PLACING SAID PRESENTATIONS IN THELIGHT PATH IN A PLURALITY OF PROJECTORS; AND SIMULTANEOUSLY PROJECTINGSAID PRESENTATIONS ON A COMMON SCREEN BY MEANS OF SAID PROJECTORSWHEREBY SAID SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF SAID CUSTOMER WILL APPEAR ON SAIDSCREEN WITH SAID PROPOSED MODIFICATION SIMULATED THEREON.